MASON CITY -Eugene E. "Gene" Johnson Jr., 53, of 2550 S. Benjamin,

died Friday (Nov.10, 2000) at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit,

Mason City, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Clear Lake United Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Lewis and Chaplin Rosie Schlueter officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake.

Eugene was born Jan. 31, 1947, in Mason City, the son of Eugene and Marcella (Coyier) Johnson. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1965 and later graduated from NIACC.

He served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1966-1969. He was wounded in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart.

After returning from the service, he worked for A&M Prestress Concrete, Winnebago Industries and in the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Safety and Security Department for the last 20 years. The hospital honored him with a retirement party on Oct. 13, 2000.

Eugene married JoAnn Hoyland, June 26, 1982, in Forest City at the Immanuel Lutheran Church

He enjoyed playing softball and coaching the Mercy women's softball team. He had a love for the great outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling and cribbage.

Eugene is survived by his wife, JoAnn Johnson, Mason City; his mother, Marcella (Coyier) Johnson, Clear Lake; three sisters, Linda Bowers and her husband, David, Clear Lake, Deborah Pierce and her husband, James, Independence, and Melissa Schuchard and her husband, Jeffrey, Clear Lake; two nephews, Charles MacDonald, Ankeny, and Dylan Schuchard, Clear Lake; two nieces, Sheila MacDonald, Johnston, and Emily Bowers, Clear Lake; a great-nephew, Warren MacDonald, Ankeny; and special friends, Richard and Deb Hartley, Mason City. He is also survived by two aunts, two uncles, several cousins and many special friends.

Eugene was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Sr.; his grandparents; his parents-in-law, Jack and Ida Hoyland; and two uncles.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, (641) 357-2193